RUSTAVI2

• Scandalous letter by English teacher of the Ivanishvilis
  

  "Life with Bidzina Ivanishvili, an eye opening and near death experience in Georgia", - the letter has been published by Patrick Downey, who used to work as an English teacher at the Ivanishvilis` in 2007-2008. In the letter the former U.S. citizens tells a lot of details about the family of the Georgian business tycoon and leader of the Georgian Dream Public Movement.

  "I had to come to expect the unexpected living with and working for the Ivanishvilis... but being drugged was something I never would have expected in a million years. Not to mention being told blatant lies, and having one of the world`s richest men, who I considered to be a friend, suddenly turn his back on me. Maybe this was out of fear of a confrontation, but probably more was involved, perhaps my Foreign Service background – I had served at the US Embassy in Moscow, and had knowledge of the people Ivanishvili would come to associate with, and the networks of patronage within the political elites of Georgia and Russia.

  "Settled in my room in the small apartment building (the "Teachers Home") across the compound in the late hours of September 28, I was startled when Bera called. He told me that Uta had drugged me, as a joke, and that he was sorry - Uta later apologized over the phone to me - and that he, and Ivanishvili`s Assistant Head of Security, would come by shortly to take me to the doctor, who also lived in the compound: a cardiologist named Zviad Matoshvili.

  "It was then that I learned from Dr. Matoshvili that I had been given a "twentyfold overdose" of a powerful, prescription-strength laxative (I believe the Ivanishvilis used laxatives as part of their diet/health regime) as a prank, during our "end of summer" celebration, but that Uta and the boys had thought better of it afterward and decided to call the doctor - Matoshvili told me that my condition could have been "very serious" had I not been treated." the letter says.

  Bidzina Ivanishvili responded to the letter today saying that it`s evident Patrick Downey is suffering from psychical problems and his letter should not be perceived seriously by journalists.

  
  
  
• Heavy snowfall causes problems in Western Georgia
  

  The heavy snowfall has caused problems in Samegrelo Region in Western Georgia. Zugdidi-Senaki-Tbilisi central highway was closed at several sites today; traffic movement was hampered.

  Few road accidents also took place in Western Georgia today. Reportedly, one passenger was killed several were injured in the road accident in the village of Kvaloni, where 5 vehicles collided into one another.

  Emergency and patrol police brigades are working 24 hours to assist avoiding problems on the roads caused by the bad weather conditions.
  

   

  
  
  
• NDP leader speaks about forming of the `third centre`
  

  National Democratic Party of Georgia has an ambition to be the third political centre in Georgia by its western-oriented policy. Bachuki Kardava, the leader of the NDP announced at the party`s 95th jubilee event today, that they are diverging from the two political centers - the government and the ruling party one side and the pseudo-opposition alliance formed around the Georgian billionaire and politician Bidzina Ivanishvili, whom he called the `reflection of the government`.

  `Dangerous two poles are visible - one side it is the government of Georgia with huge governmental resources in every sphere and on the other side we see a kind of its reflection, based on billiards, where the politics is seen as a subject of political bargain and where the political parties are necessary only for facade cosmetics. Other political groups, who are also parts of this second pole, want to emerge as the third centre but in fact they are a pseudo political alternative, the beasty desire of gaining power and the oligarchy of dreams. We are offering Georgia the road, which Gia Chanturia (the late leader of the NDP) called the third road. This is a very hard but the only right way, which will never lead us to a deadlock,` Bachuki Kardava announced.

   

  
  
  
• Labour Party alleges Ivanishvili of having sponsored law enforcement structures
  

  Labour Party of Georgia alleges that Bidzina Ivanishvili sponsored the `punitive` law enforcement structure that is under the control of the government. Paata Jibladze of the party said at the briefing today that Ivanishvili transferred 1,243,000,000 GEL to the government, which was spent on the formation of a political police.

  `In his Monday interview, Ivanishvili confirmed once again that with his support and assistance the formation of the Saakashvili-Merabishvili punitive law enforcement structure occurred, which afterwards massacred its own people, formed a political police and sent many innocent people to prisons illegally,` Paata Jibladze announced and called on  the oligarch to publish the detailed account of the transactions.
  

  
  
  
• Some politicians join Ivanishvili`s coalition
  

  Family policy is still topical in the coalition of Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgian billionaire and politician, who has presidential ambitions. The press office of the Georgian Dream Movement founded by the billionaire announced today that Maia Phanjikidze, who is the sister of the wife of Irakli Alasania, one of the allies of Ivanishvili, has been appointed the press speaker of the organization.

  Ivanishvili briefed for media today and announced that two women politicians, Guguli Maghradze and Salome Zurabishvili will join his movement soon. Ivanishvili is also negotiating with the party of Social Democrats and the Party of Greens of Georgia.

  `In a few days I will have a meeting with Guguli Magradze; we have actually agreed terms of cooperation - I offered her to join my future party. Similar negotiations are underway with Salome Zurabishvili who has to clarify her final positions; however, it is clear that she will cooperate with us. I also want to remind you that I was offered by the leader of the Social Democratic Party Zhorzholiani to agree on joint candidates in single-mandate constituencies and we have welcomed this proposal. We are going to cooperate about single-mandate candidates with the Party of Greens too,` Ivanishvili said.

   

  
  
  
• Beauty salon explosion injures six people
  

  Six people were injured in the explosion which occurred at one of the beauty salons in the city of Telavi at noon today. Police say the explosion was caused by the leakage of natural gas from the system. Three of the injured are children, who played outside the salon; the other three are the employs of the salon.
  Two of the injured have been transferred to Tbilisi as their health state is very critical.
  

  
  
  
• Six thousands subscribers disconnected from electricity network in Western regions
  

  About six thousand subscribers have been disconnected from the electricity network due to the damages on the system in the Western Regions of Georgia. The system was damaged due to heavy snow. The rehabilitation works are underway and the energy ministry authorities say the system will be reconnected in a few hours. Electricity is supplied to other regions of the country without obstructions.

  `By noon today, 6317 subscribers were disconnected from the network, which is 0,7% of total number and the problem will be uprooted in a few hours and these subscribers will be reconnected. If the weather is deteriorated even more, the energy sector will do its best to avoid complications and eradicate damages in time,` Energy Minister Elaksandre Khetaguri told journalists today.

   

  
  
  
• Heavy snow ruined a house in Dusheti
  

  Heavy snow has caused a collapse of one party of a house in the village of Aragvispiri, Dusheti district of the Mtskheta-Mtianeti Region today. It is quite possible that the house may collapse completely soon and the family may be left homeless. Luckily, no one was injured in the accident as the people living there got out of the building in time.
  

  
  
  
• Russia bans products made in Ukraine and Norway
  

  Discontented with the policy of its neighbors, Russia uses its main tool to demonstrate it is prior. After banning products made in Georgia, Belarus and Moldova, Russian embargo has now been imposed on products made in Ukraine. Russian consumer rights watchdog will impose a ban on imports of cheese produced by some Ukrainian companies that have taken an unconstructive position regarding a solution to problems surrounding the quality of this product, Rospotrebnadzor head and Russia`s chief epidemiologist Gennady Onishchenko announced today. The ban will also refer to Norwegian providers.
  Onischchenko said the laboratory tests found intestinal bacillus in the fish products made in Norway; the Norwegian providers have been already received corresponding letter from Onishchenko`s office

  
  
  
• Schools closed in Georgia until February 13
  

  Schools have been closed in Georgia due to heavy snow and problems on roads under the decree of the Ministry of Education. The statement published on the ministry website says the studies will be resumed no February 13.

  The missed classes will not affect the final results of the pupils as the additional lessons will be held on Saturdays.